After Marrying The Paranoid God of War (Rebirth) - Chapter 6.1
Chapter 6: Break The Arm
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The town of Qingquan had numerous water channels, divided into four districts by several ancient bridges: East, West, South, and North. The Zhu family’s residence was in the northern part of the town, where merchants and traders gathered, surrounded by teahouses and taverns. Further on, there was even a fish market selling various seasonal river delicacies.
On the veranda, Steward Liu was leaning weakly on the pear wood step bed, his fleshy face showing a bit of exhaustion.
After Madam Zhu brought him a bowl of blood-activating and stasis-eliminating medicinal soup, she couldn’t help but wrinkle her brows with a handkerchief and exclaimed, “I thought that girl’s fiancé had long abandoned her, never expected him to suddenly return! I didn’t inquire thoroughly before; I really didn’t know he was skilled in martial arts…”
After receiving the medicinal bowl, Steward Liu glanced at Madam Zhu without speaking.
Madam Zhu sighed and continued, “I tried to help that girl find a good marriage, but I don’t know what she was thinking. Instead of being a proper concubine, she ended up with a discharged rogue thug.”
The more she spoke, the more resentful she felt. The silver that could have been in her hands was lost due to Ruan An and her lover.
Today, Steward Liu was resting, but he had been thinking about when the imperial censor sent from the capital would arrive. During these days of recovery, he had successfully covered up all the rotten deeds Tang Yi had done before, and he didn’t think anyone would notice any flaws.
However, Steward Liu still held a grudge in his heart—all because of that village girl surnamed Ruan and her reckless lover!
While Steward Liu was pondering how to teach Huo Pingxiao a lesson, he heard a familiar and cold male voice outside the door, “Is Madam Zhu here?”
As the words fell, Steward Liu’s expression subtly changed.
It was that boy’s voice.
As soon as he heard Huo Pingxiao’s voice, Steward Liu recalled the scenes of being beaten by him that day, and a layer of goosebumps appeared all over his body.
Steward Liu couldn’t help but shake his body, but suddenly a plan emerged in his mind.
Huo Pingxiao was just a local ruffian who dominated the village, despite having some martial arts skills. Ordinary people would avoid such desperate characters when dealing with land disputes or minor legal matters.
But who was Steward Liu?
A sinister smile gradually appeared in Steward Liu’s murky eyes. He gestured for Madam Zhu to come to his side and whispered something to her.
After hearing Steward Liu’s instructions, Madam Zhu frowned and asked, “What if he gets violent with me? You can’t handle his martial arts skills, and how am I supposed to withstand them?”
Steward Liu glared at her with frustration and said, “Can’t you just avoid him? Let me make it clear to you. If you can get that boy sent to jail, even if the young master and that village girl don’t end up together, I will still give you those dozens of taels of silver. I’ll also send people to renovate your veranda.”
After hearing Steward Liu’s conditions, Madam Zhu couldn’t help but be tempted. After some consideration, she decided to agree to Steward Liu’s request.
“Thump, thump, thump.”
Outside the side hall, the sound of a man knocking on the door became louder. Every knock betrayed impatience. “Is Madam Zhu here?”
“Coming, coming, why so urgent?”
As soon as she opened the door and saw the appearance of Huo Pingxiao, Madam Zhu understood why Ruan An chose this rough man as her husband instead of becoming Tang Yi’s concubine.
This young man was truly handsome, even with a fierce scar on his neck. What others noticed first was his superior and robust appearance.
But even if this man was handsome, today she would make sure he ended up in prison!
After Ruan An and Huo Pingxiao entered the small courtyard outside the side hall, they got straight to the point.
Although Ruan An’s tone was soft, it was not without a distant coldness. She questioned with a slight displeasure, “You are just my master’s secondary wife. I respect you to some extent. How dare you randomly arrange my marriage?”
Madam Zhu squinted her eyes, secretly sighing that this girl had found a backer and even dared to speak to her like this!
She sternly reprimanded Ruan An, “You girl, don’t know the immensity of heaven and earth. Just because you know some medical skills and have hooked up with a wild man, you think highly of yourself!”
At this point, Madam Zhu looked up at Huo Pingxiao. Seeing his cold expression but no sign of anger, she felt she hadn’t provoked them enough.
Knowing Ruan An’s weakness well, Madam Zhu then used vulgar language to provoke her, “You little ????! You dare to decide on a lifelong commitment with a wild man from who knows where and then flaunt your power in front of me? Just like your short-lived mistress, bold but fragile, clearly a miserable person!”
“Don’t insult my mistress!”
Hearing Madam Zhu insult her mistress, Ruan An, with her frail figure, trembled with anger. The girl gritted her silver teeth, her eyes turning red. “You have no right to mention her!”
Doctor Sun and Ruan An’s mistress were originally a loving couple, but as Doctor Sun aged, he made a mistake and got involved with Madam Zhu.
After giving birth to Sun Ye, the mistress’s body was already in a state of deficiencies. She became even more depressed upon learning about Doctor Sun’s affair with Madam Zhu and she passed away early.
Although Doctor Sun later married Madam Zhu as his secondary wife, he always felt guilty towards her mistress, and eventually, the accumulated resentment took a toll on his health, leading to his demise.
These misfortunes began with Doctor Sun’s infidelity and indecisiveness, but Madam Zhu’s dirty tactics were also implicated.
Ruan An and Sun Ye could have avoided becoming orphans, finding some support in this not-so-peaceful world. However, Madam Zhu not only failed in her duty as a stepmother but also pushed her into a den of tigers and wolves.
On one side, Ruan An was on the verge of tears from anger, while Madam Zhu observed Huo Pingxiao’s expression. Seeing the bulging veins on his forehead and his lowered head comforting the young girl at his side, it seemed he wanted to console her.
Why hasn’t this man taken action yet? It looks like she needs to escalate things to get him into prison.
With this in mind, Madam Zhu raised her hand, ready to slap the fair cheek of the girl.
Her voice turned fierce as she threatened, “You, a wretched girl who was born without a mother and raised without one, today I will teach you a lesson for your master…”
“Ah—”
Before Madam Zhu could finish her words, she saw Huo Pingxiao’s pitch-black eyes filled with hostility. His single hand swiftly moved, and as he caught Madam Zhu’s arm that was about to strike, he coldly questioned, “Bullying my wife?”
As he spoke, the powerful bones of his hand erupted with a force capable of shattering steel—only a “crack” was heard.
The man disdainfully lowered his eyelashes and sneered, “Right in front of me.”
Madam Zhu heard the sound of her own arm bones breaking, accompanied by an unprecedented intense pain. Her face turned pale with horror, and tiny beads of sweat dripped down from her forehead.
This brute… this brute actually broke her arm!
Madam Zhu screamed in shock, almost driven insane by Huo Pingxiao’s actions.
Inside the room, Steward Liu heard the commotion outside and did not expect Huo Pingxiao to be so ruthless. He ran out with a frightened expression, pointing at him and cursing, “How can you lay a hand on a woman? What kind of man are you?”
The noise in the alley was not small, and it naturally attracted the attention of patrolling officers nearby. When they arrived after hearing the commotion, a smug sneer crossed Steward Liu’s eyes.
The arriving officers all recognized Steward Liu and respectfully saluted him.
Steward Liu squinted, stood with his hands behind his back, and ordered the officers, “This man is a ruffian and scoundrel, breaking into private houses and assaulting innocent people. Quickly take him to the yamen gate for me. The county magistrate is holding court today and will surely sentence him for a few years according to the laws of Great Li!”